Petunia plant named ‘KLEPH14255’

ABSTRACT

A new  Petunia  plant particularly distinguished by red flowers and an upright-mounding habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Petunia hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEPH14255’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Petunia, botanically known as Petunia hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEPH14255’. ‘KLEPH14255’ originated from a cross-pollination conducted in July 2011 in Latina, Italy between the commercial female Petunia variety ‘Duepotpaya’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,910), also commercially known as ‘Potunia Papaya’ and the commercial male Petunia variety ‘Surfinia Table Dark Red’ (patent status unknown).

The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown in a greenhouse for evaluation, where an individual plant designated ‘KLEPH14255’ was selected from the group of plants in April 2012 in Latina, Italy. In April 2012, ‘KLEPH14255’ was first vegetatively propagated by terminal tip cuttings in Latina, Italy. ‘KLEPH14255’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via tissue culture and terminal tip cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany and Latina, Italy.

-   -   1. Red flowers; and     -   2. An upright-mounding habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Petunia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph of a plant grown in a glass greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany. The photograph was taken in April 2014 and shows the foliage and flowers of a 3-month-old plant grown in a pot. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEPH14255’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Latina, Italy. Data was collected on plants grown 12-weeks from cultivation from potting in a plastic greenhouse in Latina, Italy in February 2015. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.         -   Botanical.—Petunia hybrida.         -   Common.—Petunia.         -   Designation.—‘KLEPH14255’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—The commercial female Petunia variety             ‘Duepotpaya’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,910).         -   Male parent.—The commercial male Petunia variety ‘Surfinia             Table Dark Red’ (patent status unknown). -   Plant:     -   -   Form.—Compact.         -   Habit.—Upright-mounding.         -   Height (from top of soil).—7.0 cm.         -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—13.0 cm.         -   Propagation.—Terminal tip cuttings and tissue culture.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—12 weeks in the             winter under short day conditions, and 7 weeks in the             spring.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—2 to 3 weeks.         -   Root description.—Moderate density, moderate branching,             white roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Average number (basal).—12.         -   Length of basal branches (from the base of the stem to the             tip).—6.0 cm.         -   Internode length.—0.4 cm to 1.0 cm.         -   Diameter of branches (from midpoint).—0.4 cm.         -   Stem color.—RHS 145B.         -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.         -   Texture.—Tomentose. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Length.—2.8 cm.         -   Width.—1.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Oval-elliptic.         -   Apex.—Broadly acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Immature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS N137B. Lower             surface: RHS 137C.         -   Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B. Lower surface:             RHS 137C.         -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Tomentose.         -   Venation pattern.—Arcuate.         -   Venation color (both upper and lower surfaces).—RHS 137A.         -   Petioles.—Length: 0.5 cm. Diameter: 0.3 cm. Color: RHS 145B.             Texture: Tomentose. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Shape.—Irregular oblong.         -   Length.—4.0 cm to 4.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Color at tight bud.—RHS 59A.         -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Permanent flowering             during summer time.         -   Inflorescence type.—Cymose.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—7 to 10 days.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Flowers.—Arrangement: Composed of 5 petals fused at the             base. Shape: Funnel-form. Diameter (flower face): 5.5 cm.             Depth (total length of flower): 5.5 cm. Throat/Funnel:             Length: 3.0 cm. Diameter (at opening): 1.2 cm. Texture (both             inner and outer surfaces): Smooth, glabrous. Petals: Color             of petals, immature flower: Upper surface: RHS 83B. Lower             surface: RHS 51B. Color of petals, mature flower: Upper             surface: RHS 46B. Lower surface: RHS 51C. Apex: Broadly             mucronate. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Strength of             waviness: Weak. Degree of lobation: Medium. Calyx             arrangement: Actinomorphic, composed of 5 sepals. Sepals:             Color: Upper surface: RHS N137B. Lower surface: RHS 138A.             Length: 1.8 cm to 2.0 cm. Width: 0.3 cm. Shape: Linear.             Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture (both             upper and lower surfaces): Tomentose.         -   Pedicels.—Color: RHS 144B. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Texture:             Tomentose. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 5. Shape: Needle with elliptic head.             Filament: Length: 0.9 cm to 1.2 cm. Diameter: 0.02 cm.             Color: RHS 145C. Anther: Shape: Elliptic. Color: RHS 161C.             Length: 0.2 cm. Diameter: 0.15 cm. Pollen: Color: RHS 158A.             Amount: Moderate.         -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 1. Length: 2.0 cm. Stigma             color: RHS 144A. Style color: RHS 145A. -   Fruit and seed set: No fruit and seed set observed. -   Disease and pest/insect resistance: No disease and pest/insect     resistance observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEPH14255’ is a distinct variety of Petunia and is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male Parent Characteristic ‘KLEPH14255’ ‘Duepotpaya’ ‘Surfinia Table Dark Red’ Flower color Red Orange Plant habit Upright- Trailing mounding

‘KLEPH14255’ is a distinct variety of Petunia and is most similar to the commercial Petunia variety ‘Duepotpaya’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,910). Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEPH14255’ ‘Duepotpaya’ Flower color Red Orange 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Petunia plant designated ‘KLEPH14255’ as illustrated and described herein. 